Tag: coyote

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A Pair of Coyotes

these two coyotes seem to be mates.
A mated pair?

In my last post regarding a bobcat I mentioned I saw a pair of coyotes.  It was the first time I’d seen a pair of coyotes in Point Reyes National Seashore.  I saw them again yesterday.  I think they are a mated pair.  The one on the right is very light colored, almost white.  Assuming I’m right that they are a mated pair, I assume the light one is the female based on its smaller size.  It is mating season, so I assume they will produce a litter of pups this spring.  I would love to photograph the pups.

At first I was reluctant to post this photo.  It’s not a very good photograph.  However, I decided to post it because it is mating season and because of the unusually light color of the one I think is the female.

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Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, California

A bobcat rests in a field.
Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore

A bobcat takes a rest in a field.  I’ve been seeing a lot of bobcats and coyotes at Point Reyes lately.  I saw a bobcat and three coyotes last Friday.  I saw this guy the previous visit.  Don’t recall what else I saw that day, but I have photos of a coyote from then.  I often see things, but don’t get a chance to photograph the animal so what I’ve photographed isn’t a good record of what I saw on any given day.  When I started going out to Point Reyes somewhat regularly beginning last summer I didn’t see as many bobcats or coyotes as I’m seeing now.  I don’t know if it’s luck lately or that I’m getting better at spotting them.  Probably both, but with emphasis on the luck side of the equation.

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Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, California

A coyote looks back before retreating.
Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

This is one of the coyotes I’ve seen recently out at Point Reyes.  Note the numerous gopher holes.

Point Reyes seems to have a healthy population of coyotes and bobcats.  The same can be said throughout Marin County thanks to the efforts of Camilla Fox.  In the late 1990s Camilla, with the help of other concerned citizens, convinced the County of Marin to stop the indiscriminate trapping and poisoning of coyotes to protect sheep.  Not only was the trapping and poisoning inhumane, but it killed more badgers, bobcats and foxes than it did the highly intelligent coyotes.  Now the County has a non-lethal coyote control program that relies on guard dogs, llamas and electrified fencing to protect sheep.  The program has been an unqualified success.  Camilla now heads up an organization called Project Coyote which fights the senseless trapping and poisoning of coyotes throughout the United States and Canada as well as other inhumane practices like coyote and fox penning where a coyote or fox is locked in an escape-proof enclosure and then dogs are released to kill it.   It seems a bit like dog fighting to me with one side not having a fair chance.  Some people actually enjoy doing this.  To learn more about Project Coyote click here.

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A Week at Blacktail Pond (Continued from Yesterday)

Yesterday’s post ended with mama bear attacking her cub.  While I said that I thought it was probably because she was agitated over the wolf having been at the carcass, there is more to it than that.  The cub is 2 years old (actually 21/2 years old) and from mom’s point of view it’s about time for the cub to hit the road.  Biologically, she’s ready to mate again.  This fact is not lost on nearby male grizzlies.  Here is one suitor who has come calling.  The cub moved off when he came on the scene.

A grizzly sow and boar stand near a bison carcass in Blacktail Pond.
Grizzly Sow and Boar, Yellowstone National Park

The next time I saw the sow and boar they were in the act of mating a bit beyond the pond.  The cub was in the vicinity of the pond, but making sure it kept a good distance between itself and the boar.

As I mentioned before, there were other scavengers who benefited from the misfortune of the two bison.  One was a coyote who got some meat from the carcass on the east side of the pond and promptly left.  It probably felt that with grizzlies and wolves around it could find a better place to enjoy a meal than at Blacktail.

A coyote leaves Blacktail Pond with some meat from one of the bison that died in Blacktail Pond.
Coyote, Yellowstone National Park

I mentioned earlier that bald eagles and ravens also benefited from the misfortune of the bison.  I wasn’t sure I had any photos of them, but I looked and found one.

A raven harasses a bald eagle as it leaves Blacktail Pond.
Raven and Bald Eagle, Yellowstone National Park

This photo was quite underexposed probably due to the surface of the pond.  It also has some noise.  Note the blood on the beak of the eagle.

In addition to the wildlife, Yellowstone visitors benefited from the demise of the bison.  The Blacktail Pond area was crowded with visitors, and photographers in particular, for more than a week.

For the most part, these photos were taken under less than ideal conditions due to poor lighting and excessive distance.   The bear and wolf photos were shot at about 175 yards.   In my experience you can’t get good quality images at that distance.  The equipment used was as follows:  Canon 500mm f/4 lens; Canon 1.4 TC; Canon 7D.  I should also mention a book I have found to be very valuable in understanding bears in general and Yellowstone’s in particular.  The book is “Yellowstone Bears In the Wild.”  The author is James C. Halfpenny.  You can find it at almost any book store.  If you’re in Gardiner, Montana, you can pick up a copy of Jim’s book at The Paradise Gallery.  If you go there, you should also check out the wildlife photos on display by several wildlife photographers, including yours truly.